Your Student Newspaper
The Crusader is the student newspaper of Belmont Abbey College. The newspaper welcomes all students, faculty, and staff to submit an article for each issue. If you would like to become a member of the The Crusader staff or would like to submit an article, please email the student editor or the faculty advisor:
Student Editors:
Joy Dygowski
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Erin Jensen — erinjensen@bac.edu
Recent Articles
Dr. T Money
Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Connor Nanney Dr. Rajive Tiwari, the longtime physics professor and the Coordinator of the Physics-Mathematics Minor at the Abbey, displays an exemplary love for knowledge and education. Dr. Tiwari, often referred to by his students as “Dr. T-Money” (or Dr. T$), grew up in Delhi, India. His father was a professor, and teaching became a family trade as some of his siblings acquired PhDs and taught. Furthermore, he feels indebted to his own teachers who imparted him with “wisdom and knowledge and all that good stuff,” and he feels that teaching is a way to repay that debt. All these factors contributed to the creation of a successful, effective, and beloved professor. Having taught at Belmont Abbey College since 1994, Dr. Tiwari has taught many physics classes and students. One would expect that 30 years of teaching the same few subjects would become boring, but Dr. Tiwari claims that “The material might be the same, but every class is different.” Not only do interactions with different groups of students prevent teaching physics from becoming monotonous, but new questions raised by pupils provide fresh perspective and insight. Dr. Tiwari believes that one learns by being asked questions that they cannot answer. As such, he is glad to be asked difficult questions, stating: “That enriches my own knowledge.” Being in the classroom in action is an invaluable thing to this professor. Belmont Abbey College is blessed to have such a dedicated professor of physics, and Dr. Tiwari is excited to continue doing what he loves: teaching. This article was originally posted in the Spring 2024, Issue 2 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.
Campus Blossoms Beautifully to Life
Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Jennifer Johanson It’s absolutely no secret that Belmont Abbey boasts one of the most picturesque campuses a college could hope to have. As the seasons turn from winter to spring, the students and staff of Belmont Abbey College will be able to see their home campus at its most beautiful as it comes to life with a lavish display of flora and fauna and truly be given a wonderful treat for any outdoor excursions. With spring’s (perhaps early) arrival, our campus bursts into a floral feast for the eyes; it and the warm weather prompting more and more students to do their work outside rather than cooped up in their dorms. To examine what Belmont Abbey’s outdoor sections have to offer this time of year, two freshmen, Lucy Flood and Ava Biance, sit down for an interview regarding their experience with the campus. Already, they enjoy studying outside up to twice a week, their personal recommended spot being Abbey Lane in the evening, and the anticipation only builds further for when more flowers accompany the daffodils and lilies of the valley. Ava states, “It’s very serene, very quiet.” Of course, as exquisite as the landscape is on its own, it is not complete without its share of fauna. The Abbey is home to a wide variety of creatures. Many species of birds, from hawks to crows to mockingbirds and sparrows, can be seen on campus, and on occasion you can catch a heron in flight heading towards the lake not too far away. It’s not uncommon to see the odd lizard or skink here as well, or even a snake! Be wary, however, during winter: copperheads like to hibernate beneath the stairs near the Holy Grounds cafe. Insects are plentiful as well, and while most commonly…
Late Nights with The Lord
Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Sarah Gilmore Every Thursday night, from 11pm to midnight, there is a Holy Hour in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel here on campus. This Hearts United Holy Hour is headed by Dr. Thierfelder and his wife. Students are encouraged to come pray and attend this Holy Hour. This Thursday, Holy Hour is part of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is a time to remember Jesus’ acceptance of His Father’s will when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is an opportunity to make reparation for sin, ask for mercy, and keep company with Jesus during an hour in which he was left alone to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. With the lights dimmed, the stillness of the hour, and the True Presence of Christ, this Holy Hour is a great gift to the Belmont Abbey community. Junior Reagan Merkel says of the United Hearts Hour, “I love this late night hour in the Chapel. It is such a peaceful, serene, and intimate way to spend time with the Lord.” Daily Adoration ends each night by 8pm, so the Hearts United Holy Hour offers the opportunity for students to spend time in Adoration later than would normally be possible. Reagan Merkel emphasizes this point saying, it’s “perfect for the late-night owls on campus.” Come spend time adoring the Lord alongside members of our college community next Thursday evening in the beautiful St. Joseph Adoration Chapel. This article was originally posted in the Spring 2024, Issue 2 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.
BAC’s Favorite Monk
Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Katherine Flynn Br. Edward Mancuso is one of the most beloved monks at Belmont Abbey College. A native of New Jersey, he grew up in Morristown and went to St. Bonaventure University in New York. Before becoming a monk, Br. Edward worked in advertising for a pharmaceutical company, and during this time, he also discerned a call to religious life. While at St. Bonaventure University, Br. Edward really enjoyed spending quiet time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. After he graduated, he visited a monastery in New Jersey. After several visits, he decided to become a monk. Someone recommended Belmont Abbey to him, and after 2 years of visits, he decided to join. Br. Edward has been at BAC for 21 years and is the Guest Master for the monastery (meaning, he takes care of all non-vocational guests that visit). He also works in Campus Ministry and loves being around the students. He especially enjoys praying with students (especially through the intercession of Bl. Solanus Casey) and talking about the saints. A highlight for him is doing Saint’s Group with them. What Br. Edward most enjoys about being a monk is the prayer life, especially the divine office and quiet prayer time. He is devoted to Bl. Solanus Casey and one of his favorite sayings is “Solanus is upon us”. He truly has a saintly soul and has helped many students (including myself) grow closer to God. Br. Edward is in Campus Ministry from 2-4 pm during the week and welcomes anyone who needs help, personally or spiritually. Stop by and see him, and you will certainly encounter Our Lord through him! This article was originally posted in the Spring 2024, Issue 2 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.
FOCUSing on the Belmont Abbey Missionaries
Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Emily Nagel The Catholic community at Belmont Abbey is constantly growing and evolving, especially through the FOCUS missionaries here. FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) is an organization that sends out missionaries, many of whom have recently graduated, to reach out and walk with students on campus. They desire to share in their daily lives while inviting them into a deeper relationship with Christ and His Church. The five current FOCUS missionaries at Belmont Abbey College who are currently involved in this mission are Quinn, Kelcey, Kathryn, Jake, and Becca. These five incredible missionaries have several areas that they are involved in to help students foster both on and off campus communities along with their relationship with Christ. They do this primarily through bible studies, discipleship, and orchestrating numerous events or trips such as SEEK or other travel and international mission trips. Two main ways the FOCUS missionaries are involved in helping students grow are through bible study and discipleship. Each missionary leads their own bible study and discipleship group. Some of the bible studies are a mix of various types of students whereas some are sport-oriented bible studies. These bible studies are intended to bring the on-campus community together through scripture to help the students better understand and live out the Word of God. One of the current FOCUS missionaries, Jake Burns, provided a quote that emphasizes the importance of sharing the Word of God along with his why for being a missionary as he states, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20…
RAs: Friend or Foe?
Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Clay Zimmerman As a resident assistant at Belmont Abbey College for the past three years, I thought I could share some insight into the life of an “RA” for the laypeople of this campus. Do with this as you will. I spent the first two of my three years working for Residence Life in Poellath, a hall known for its antics. Freshman boys certainly live up to the stereotype of being wild and out of control, but I enjoyed (almost) every second of my time in that iconic building. This past year I have been the head resident assistant for St. Benedict and St. Scholastica halls, mostly composed of upperclassmen. The “Saints” have the reputation of being the calmest buildings on campus amongst us RAs, and thus far, it has lived up to the reputation. If you ask any experienced RA, there is a good chance they will tell you a wild story of an interaction with residents. I agree with fellow Head RA Evelyn Vesely when she said, “I feel like I have seen it all,” and then immediately learned that we have not, in fact, seen it all. The most awkward part of this position is when I approach a resident for misconduct and have to sit next to them in class the very next day. We have to supervise our friends and teammates while still trying to maintain a good relationship with them. At the end of the day, the life of a resident assistant can be rewarding. The money is nice, for sure, but helping students in their collegiate journey is rewarding in its own way. So, please, next time you see an RA, thank them for what they are doing. Because, for all you know, they may have just had to…